Introduction

Massage is the treatment and practice of soft tissue manipulation with physical, functional, and in some cases psychological purposes and goals (Wikipedia). It is a manual therapy involving pressure applied with the hands, fingers, forearms and other body parts at varied speeds, pressure, focus and using a variety of strokes. The term was started by the French explorers in the 1700s and the word massage is a French word meaning ‘a method of kneading with the hands’. It is a primary form of communication incorporating the sense of touch. The sense of touch provides us with the most immediate and effective communication system (Parsons 2004). It is intuitive and offers people a way of expressing their feelings and when one receives touch one feels comforted, wanted and cared for. Touch and rubbing is used to comfort a crying baby, a child that falls and hurts themselves, or an upset adult. Research by Vygotsky (1978) suggests that children held in isolation and who do not engage with others do not develop fully. Development of the individual depends upon full social interaction. Touch and interaction with others is essential during the early years for this to occur.